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MALLORCA
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Mijas Costa
Vol. 4 Issue 96 www.theolivepress.es December 24th - January 14th 2021
Down to the wire Johnson and von der Leyen hold secret talks to try to thrash out a trade deal
HAPPY CHRISTMAS: May 2021 be a better year for us all!
BORIS Johnson and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen have been locked in last-ditch secret talks to secure a Brexit deal. This was after expats in Mallorca and the rest of the EU were left in a Brexit limbo after the crucial deadline for a trade deal between the UK and EU was missed. Despite negotiators inching towards an agreement, Sunday’s deadline passed with France sticking to its ‘red lines’ over fishing rights in British waters. However, as the clock ticks towards the UK’s departure from the EU on January 1, there still remains hope that continuing negotiations could avoid a nodeal Brexit. One of the main concerns for negotiators - and the vast majority of British expats in Spain - is that all 27 EU nations must agree to the deal... and France has the right to veto it. The EU Council of Ministers had given midnight on Sunday as the cut off point if they were to have time to ratify the deal in the EU parliament before
SECRET: Johnson and von der Leyen have been in contact with the fundamental princiBy Dilip Kuner ples we brought into the negotiations.” UK health secretary, Matt the end of the year. Since then Prime Minister Hancock claimed that ‘unreaJohnson and the von der Ley- sonable demands’ from the EU en have been holding regular over fishing rights had thrown ‘secret’ phone calls in a bid to a roadblock across negotiations. break the deadlock. British and EU negotiators are He said: “I’m sure that a deal today trying to thrash out an can be done, but obviously it agreement over trade before needs movement on the EU side.” they break for Christmas. Unless a spectacular break- If a deal is agreed then there through is made, Britain will remains the possibility of it fall under World Trade Organ- being ‘provisionally applied’ isation rules, with a range of from January 1 until the EU tariffs being imposed, in just parliament can meet later in the month. over a week’s time. “Talks remain difficult and UK ministers meanwhile, have significant differences re- firmly ruled out extending the main,” a source said this week. Brexit process into 2021. “We continue to explore every It comes after a group of MPs route to a deal that is in line from all parties, plus London Mayor Sadiq Khan, had called for the Brexit transition period to be extended due to the coronaSee page 16 virus pandemic and slow progress on negotiations.
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No where to go for Xmas
THE Government of the Balearic Islands has announced that the Level 4 coronavirus restrictions in Mallorca will likely be extended until January 11. This level is deemed the most serious in the COVID-19 tier system and includes the harshest restrictions. These include a 10pm curfew and a ban on the use of the interior areas of bars and restaurants which also must close by 6pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. President Francina Armengol had said previously that the epidemiological situation would be assessed on December 28 and that the island could return to Level 3. However, Armengol today revealed her plans to extend the Level 4 restrictions until at least the second week of January. She said: “Only a drastic drop in cases would make me rethink this plan, but this is not likely.” Balearic Health Minister Patricia Gomez has also asked residents to avoid travelling to mainland Spain over the festive period. She said: “We recommend that you do not travel and ask for maximum responsibility in the face of an increase in coronavirus cases.”